NHAI fast tracks Rs 2,000-cr tunnel project in Delhi
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has expedited the Rs 2,000 crore tunnel project, providing much-needed relief to road users facing perpetual traffic congestion on Nelson Mandela Marg while traveling to the T3 airport terminal and Gurgaon from south Delhi. Following design modifications and the resolution of technical challenges, the transport ministry has approved the project, and construction work is set to commence soon.
The proposed tunnel, which will be one of the widest in the country at 14 meters, starts from Vasant Kunj's Nelson Mandela Marg and concludes at Mahipalpur's Shiv Murti. Upon completion of the 5-kilometer tunnel, it will connect three major roads: the Delhi-Jaipur highway, Dwarka Expressway, and Nelson Mandela Road. This development will not only enhance connectivity but also alleviate congestion in south Delhi localities. Currently, vehicles from north Delhi traveling to the Delhi-Jaipur NH-48 via the Dwarka Expressway must cover a distance of around 13 kilometers. However, with the tunnel, motorists will be able to directly access NH 148AE via Shiv Murti, reducing the distance significantly.
The project must be completed within the next four years, and the contractor will be responsible for its maintenance for the following ten years, as per the stipulated conditions. Although the detailed project report was approved six months ago, multiple technical changes were subsequently suggested by experts. The stretch between NH-148AE at Nelson Mandela Marg and NH-248 BB (Dwarka Expressway) and NH-48 (Delhi-Jaipur) at Shiv Murti Chowk spans approximately eight kilometers.
The proposed tunnel, which will be one of the widest in the country at 14 meters, starts from Vasant Kunj's Nelson Mandela Marg and concludes at Mahipalpur's Shiv Murti. Upon completion of the 5-kilometer tunnel, it will connect three major roads: the Delhi-Jaipur highway, Dwarka Expressway, and Nelson Mandela Road. This development will not only enhance connectivity but also alleviate congestion in south Delhi localities. Currently, vehicles from north Delhi traveling to the Delhi-Jaipur NH-48 via the Dwarka Expressway must cover a distance of around 13 kilometers. However, with the tunnel, motorists will be able to directly access NH 148AE via Shiv Murti, reducing the distance significantly.
The project must be completed within the next four years, and the contractor will be responsible for its maintenance for the following ten years, as per the stipulated conditions. Although the detailed project report was approved six months ago, multiple technical changes were subsequently suggested by experts. The stretch between NH-148AE at Nelson Mandela Marg and NH-248 BB (Dwarka Expressway) and NH-48 (Delhi-Jaipur) at Shiv Murti Chowk spans approximately eight kilometers.